How old is this ammo? And what's with these "Cartridge Carriers"?

RodTheWrench · October 24, 2013, 12:34 PM

I got some ammo recently in a gun trade. I wound up with a Remington 742 Gamemaster in 30.06 for next to nothing and it drew first blood (for my buddy at least) on a nice 3-point Muley last Saturday, right through the heart.

Back to the ammo. It's still in the original packaging, and the package says 150 Gr. Soft Point (C3006A) and 30-06 SPRG. HI-SHOK.

The cool(?) thing about this is the 20 rounds are in 2 "Cartridge Carriers" that presumably you sling your belt through before you take off for the hills and supposedly makes for faster reloading of your rifle as Bambi is bounding off over the next hill.

I'm assuming these weren't very popular, thus the reason I don't see them with today's ammo?

So, how old do you guys think this ammo is?

How good is/was the 150 gr. Hi-Shock?

Should I shoot it? Or separate it and head to the reloading bench? The cartridges are pristine, no corrosion of any kind, don't appear to have been handled much - if at all.

Thanks all!

spacecoast · October 24, 2013, 12:44 PM

Wild guess... late 80s, early 90s. Looks like maybe it was purchased at K-Mart.

The patent on the cartridge holder is from 1971.

http://www.google.com/patents/US3616976

Paul B. · October 24, 2013, 12:44 PM

That's just Federal brand ammo and they still sell it with those holders AFAIK. I was given a bunch of .308 Federal match brass and some of it was still in those holders, just a different color. Dunno when Federal changed the color of their amo box but I don't think that ammo is all that old. I'd shoot'em.
Paul B.

RodTheWrench · October 24, 2013, 12:51 PM

Yeah space, I'd like to have seen the complete price tag!

FrankenMauser · October 24, 2013, 12:58 PM

I think that box art is late '80s. In the mid-'80s, they used more silver and blue as primary or secondary colors.

The cartridge carriers were Federal's standard packaging method for at least 30 years. I've seen 6-round, 8-round, and 10-round versions; and I'm sure there were others.

Shoot it.

SPEMack618 · October 24, 2013, 01:37 PM

Yeah, that looks late 80s to me, as well.

Pop has some .270 loads in similar packaging that date to that era.

The last box of Hornady Light Magnum I bought had those same cartridge holders, only in black.

RodTheWrench · October 24, 2013, 04:52 PM

So, any guesses (assuming late 80s) what the price tag had on it?

SPEMack618 · October 24, 2013, 05:16 PM

My guess would be in the $14.50 range.

tony pasley · October 24, 2013, 08:03 PM

check with manufacture by the lot# and they should be able to give the month and year they were made.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · October 25, 2013, 12:00 AM

To be honest. I've never seen packaging like that before. Most unusual.
But I do have a few of those (red) belt carrier's.

Quote:

Should I shoot it? Or separate it and head to the reloading bench?

Either way you choose to handle is OK. But since you reload. Perhaps change out their powder and resize their Necks only. Then you have 20 sure fire shells to hunt with is another consideration.

**JohnKSa** · October 25, 2013, 12:19 AM

According to this source, it was made in 1987. You can figure out the month and day of manufacture as well if you're interested.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/ca...ral-lot-s.html

Unless the ammunition shows obvious signs of degradation, or you have good reason to suspect it was stored under extreme conditions, there's no reason not to shoot it.

FrankenMauser · October 25, 2013, 12:26 AM

Quote:

According to this source, it was made in 1987. You can figure out the month and day of manufacture as well if you're interested.

November 25.

RodTheWrench · October 25, 2013, 04:15 PM

You guys are amazing! 1987 huh? That's not THAT old!

I was a Senior in High School when these rolled off the production line...

Skans · October 25, 2013, 04:29 PM

I used to buy 22-250 that came in those same red plastic packaging. That was around 1984 - 1986.

Wyoredman · October 25, 2013, 04:31 PM

Quote:

1987 huh?...I was a Senior in High School

Birds of a feather...

globemaster3 · October 26, 2013, 08:40 AM

Sophomore in HS, and I still have a couple of those I reused with some reloads.

If we are calling 1987 old, uh, what does that make us?

SPEMack618 · October 26, 2013, 09:26 AM

Well, lets see, in 87, my sister was three and I wasn't quite born yet.

But hey, I still have ammo from that era, it was just bought by Pops.

medalguy · October 26, 2013, 10:08 PM

Hell, that's NEW ammo for most of us. 'Choot 'em.

shortwave · October 27, 2013, 12:17 PM

^^^What he said^^^

Fire away.

October 24, 2013, 12:44 PM	#3
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,801	That's just Federal brand ammo and they still sell it with those holders AFAIK. I was given a bunch of .308 Federal match brass and some of it was still in those holders, just a different color. Dunno when Federal changed the color of their amo box but I don't think that ammo is all that old. I'd shoot'em. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

October 24, 2013, 12:51 PM	#4
RodTheWrench Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2013 Location: Utah Posts: 365	Yeah space, I'd like to have seen the complete price tag! __________________ "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." - Han Solo

October 24, 2013, 12:58 PM	#5
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	I think that box art is late '80s. In the mid-'80s, they used more silver and blue as primary or secondary colors. The cartridge carriers were Federal's standard packaging method for at least 30 years. I've seen 6-round, 8-round, and 10-round versions; and I'm sure there were others. Shoot it. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

October 24, 2013, 01:37 PM	#6
SPEMack618 Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2010 Location: Central Georgia Posts: 1,863	Yeah, that looks late 80s to me, as well. Pop has some .270 loads in similar packaging that date to that era. The last box of Hornady Light Magnum I bought had those same cartridge holders, only in black. __________________ NRA Life Member Read my blog! "The answer to any caliber debate is going to be .38 Super, 10mm, .357 Sig or .41 Magnum!"

October 24, 2013, 04:52 PM	#7
RodTheWrench Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2013 Location: Utah Posts: 365	So, any guesses (assuming late 80s) what the price tag had on it? __________________ "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." - Han Solo

October 24, 2013, 12:44 PM	#2
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Wild guess... late 80s, early 90s. Looks like maybe it was purchased at K-Mart. The patent on the cartridge holder is from 1971. http://www.google.com/patents/US3616976

October 24, 2013, 05:16 PM	#8
SPEMack618 Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2010 Location: Central Georgia Posts: 1,863	My guess would be in the $14.50 range. __________________ NRA Life Member Read my blog! "The answer to any caliber debate is going to be .38 Super, 10mm, .357 Sig or .41 Magnum!"

October 24, 2013, 08:03 PM	#9
tony pasley Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2006 Location: western north carolina Posts: 1,641	check with manufacture by the lot# and they should be able to give the month and year they were made. __________________ Every day Congress is in session we lose a little bit more of our Liberty.

October 25, 2013, 12:19 AM	#11
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,971	According to this source, it was made in 1987. You can figure out the month and day of manufacture as well if you're interested. http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/ca...ral-lot-s.html Unless the ammunition shows obvious signs of degradation, or you have good reason to suspect it was stored under extreme conditions, there's no reason not to shoot it. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

October 25, 2013, 04:15 PM	#13
RodTheWrench Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2013 Location: Utah Posts: 365	You guys are amazing! 1987 huh? That's not THAT old! I was a Senior in High School when these rolled off the production line... __________________ "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." - Han Solo

October 25, 2013, 04:29 PM	#14
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	I used to buy 22-250 that came in those same red plastic packaging. That was around 1984 - 1986.

October 26, 2013, 08:40 AM	#16
globemaster3 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2006 Posts: 1,482	Sophomore in HS, and I still have a couple of those I reused with some reloads. If we are calling 1987 old, uh, what does that make us? __________________ NRA Life Member "We have enough gun control. What we need is idiot control."

October 26, 2013, 09:26 AM	#17
SPEMack618 Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2010 Location: Central Georgia Posts: 1,863	Well, lets see, in 87, my sister was three and I wasn't quite born yet. But hey, I still have ammo from that era, it was just bought by Pops. __________________ NRA Life Member Read my blog! "The answer to any caliber debate is going to be .38 Super, 10mm, .357 Sig or .41 Magnum!"

October 26, 2013, 10:08 PM	#18
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,033	Hell, that's NEW ammo for most of us. 'Choot 'em.

October 27, 2013, 12:17 PM	#19
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	^^^What he said^^^ Fire away.

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